All posts tagged sunset

Her simple wisdom, printed on the back, captures the swap theme and the message of the ocean:

Live where you feel a sense of belonging…
Love bravely…
Laugh often…
Keep swimming when times are difficult…
Soar when life is a breeze…

The message reminds me of Dory (as in Finding Nemo), and since we have swiftly reached “midterm madness” this semester and (far too soon) the end of my energy, the advice to “keep swimming” is timely. Dory’s message of fortitude and grit will be my mantra for the next several weeks.

Are you, too, struggling to keep afloat with all that’s going on in your life? Maybe, Dory’s counsel will help you too. Just keep swimming…

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I did receive a number of extra postcards from Love Notes participants. The great thing about the Love Notes community is that the connections to other individuals are not just about getting postcards. Participants enjoy reaching out in their own way to other participants. Some make cards and notecards. Some purchase them, but all seem to use snail mail to brighten someone’s day and to get to know each other better. I was pleasantly surprised when I received my first unsolicited Love Notes and now I look forward to the occasional happy mail in my P.O. Box.

Here are the extra love notes from October 2016. From Christine B.:

Paris, France Arc: De Tiomphe De L’ecole

“Don’t forget to remember:

You deserve the very best.

Be sure to love yourself.

Pay yourself a compliment.

Continue to make art and look at nature.”

Sunset, Pto. Lobos, Mexico, photo by Christine B.

“Imagine…No hate. No judgment. No suffering. Just peace and love.”

“People with Courage,” art by Christine B.

“Courage is feeling the fear and doing it anyway…”

From Lorelei (whose name I love):

“3-D Pumpkin Love,” made by Lorelei C.

“Don’t forget to remember…

to enjoy a pumpkin latte or muffin or both

to treat the kiddies to best treats ever

to enjoy the gorgeous colors of the season

to unplug and read a good book

to enjoy friendships old and new”

The Duquesne Incline was once a practical mode of transport for Pittsburgh’s citizens, providing safe and reliable public transportation. The historic rail car, which began operating in 1877, is now a popular attraction for tourists. With its 400-foot rise up Mt. Washington, the Incline provides a scenic view of the Pittsburgh skyline. Photo by Blair Seitz

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. –Albert Einstein

“Can you imagine using this as transportation to work, shops, churches, or schools? And with kids, packages, bad weather? Oh, my!”

From Jacki W., a new Love Notes friend, who resides in the U.K.:

Weeping Window from the installation “Blood Swept Lands and Seas Red.” Poppies and original concept by artist Paul Cummins. Installation designed by Tom Piper

“Don’t forget to remember that life is too short to wake up with regrets, so love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don’t. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. Nobody said it would be easy. They just promised it would most likely be worth it.”

We’ve reached the final day of the nature photo challenge. I’m a bit proud of myself. Seven blog posts in seven days! I applaud those of you who blog daily, but blogging every day for a week was quite a feat for me.

I had a little trouble deciding on today’s photo. A moon shot? A tree lined path? Another flower? A rainbow peeking out from the clouds? Far too many choices.

Today, I leave you with a sunset, an appropriate end to the challenge.

“Pacific Sunset,” July 2005

This is another photo from Maui. Hubby and I were on a yacht (with others) on an evening tour around the islands of Maui and Oahu before ending at the Maui Ocean Center. We were graced with this beautiful scene before everything became pitch black over the waters.

The weekend is mere hours away, and I’m dreaming of sunset Friday and a period of rest.

You can find other photos posted for the challenge by clicking the links below:

My family and I were in and out of town during the month of July and “work” started hours after we returned from our last trip. There was little time to appreciate and share the goodies that filled my mailbox over the last few of weeks. But know that I was elated to find “nature” in the stack of mail waiting for our return–postcards and a letter that arrived somewhat unexpectedly.

The first I’m sharing is a really adorable polar bear postcard Silke sent. She’d told me a few weeks ago that she wanted to add a little fun to my mailbox. Of course, to my advantage, I forgotten about her intent.

From the postcard back (translated from German): Polar bears have adjusted perfectly with their white fur to their arctic surrounding. When they approach their prey, mostly seals, they even hide their black noses, if possible.

Silke added to the description: “Now, you tell me how they know they have black noses?” I laughed out loud, because now I’m wondering that very thing. Animal intelligence. More polar bear facts she shared:

As adults, polar bears live mostly solitary lives

They are the world’s biggest land predators

They can mate with brown bears

Their habitat is endangered by the meltdown of arctic ice.

She even added a tiny, happy brown bear sticker to the back of the postcard. Adorable. Isn’t he?

Candace of Glenrosa Journeys sent a postcard boasting about her coming retirement. Okay, not really. Maybe not. (Not sure, as I received this news as I’m beginning a new academic year). Her postcard should have been “expected” also. We’d committed to exchanging postcards post-LYA and we procrastinated sending. I couldn’t decide which one to send, and Candace was lazy–her words, not mine. 😀 She shared a beautiful butterfly postcard and quote that were worth the wait:

“Like a Butterfly” by Candace

The quote:

I want to fly like a butterfly around this beautiful world, till the last frame of my life and the last click of my heart. –Biju Karakkonam

To see more Candace’s beautiful photography which focuses on the nature of Phoenix, Arizona, you must see her blog, Glenrosa Journeys, or Flickr album.

Lastly, I received a letter from Beckra, a friend and colleague I met through swap-bot. This was totally unexpected, especially since she had just sent me a special package a couple of weeks before–and I hadn’t even had a chance to respond to her yet. Way to put the pressure on, Beckra. 😉

In addition to her newsy letter, she shared her photography story (read: philosophy) and three of her photo postcards. [Click an image for a closer look]

“Inside an Iris” by Rebecca R.

“A Spring Sunset at the Lake” by Rebecca R.

“Oh, those glorious days of spring when the redbuds pop open!” by Rebecca R.

She writes:

Photography is a different way of experiencing, and one that helps me see differently. […] Without photography I’d never spend so much time with water and light, and I’m grateful for that.